Scottish Executive

Alzheimer's Disease

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on prescribing Exiba for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has advised that Exiba is not recommended for use in NHSScotland.

  SMC advice does not override the individual responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate decisions in the circumstances of the individual patient.

Birds

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is currently taking, or has taken, to support the reintroduction of sea eagles.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has long supported the re-introduction of the white-tailed sea eagle to Scotland through a range of measures. A four-year period of research has been undertaken into the impact of white-tailed sea eagles on sheep farming on Mull. During this period, a scheme administered by Scottish Natural Heritage has been in place to compensate any loss borne by farmers. The Scottish Executive will publish the results of the research in June 2004.

  The white-tailed sea eagle and other threatened species also benefit from the tough action the Scottish Executive has taken to clamp down on wildlife crime wherever it occurs. The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 introduced custodial sentences and enhanced police powers to tackle wildlife crime. The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, also contains further significant measures to improve protection for Scotland's wildlife.

  Last year, I visited Mull and was very impressed with the wide partnership of key organisations working together to reduce the levels of criminal activity which this bird attracts. I was delighted to contribute £2,500 towards the Mull Eagle Watch Project led by Strathclyde Police.

Crown Office

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7083 by Colin Boyd QC on 31 March 2004, how many legal staff have been employed in the Crown Office in each year since 1999 and how many such staff have been employed in the (a) Criminal Confiscation Unit and (b) Civil Recovery Unit since their inception.

Colin Boyd QC: The information requested is provided in the table below:

 Crown Office Legal Staff (Including Trainees)1/4/1999   1/4/2000   1/4/2001   1/4/2002   1/4/2003   1/3/2004Cumulative Crown Office Total (inc High Ct Lawnmarket and Glasgow)*   35.6   45.6   55.6   61.5   69.3   71.5The Following are Recorded Within the Above TotalCriminal Confiscation Unit  -  -  -  -  4   5 Civil Recovery Unit  -  -  -  -  2  3Lockerbie Team  -  4  4  3  -  -Total Crown Office Based Trainee Solicitors   5   8   10   14   16   12  

  Note:

  *Staff at the High Court, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh were not included in Crown Office figures until March 2004. Glasgow High Court staff were not included in Crown Office figures until April 2003.

  The number of trainee solicitors has increased from 10 in April 1999 to 37 in August 2002. Currently, we have 16 1st year trainee solicitors and 21 2nd year trainee solicitors.

  The majority of 1st year trainee solicitors are Crown Office based with the remainder based in designated Procurator Fiscal Offices. The second year of the traineeship is spent within a designated Procurator Fiscal's Office.

Culture

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up a board to promote Scots as a living language, similar to the Ulster-Scots Agency set up under the Good Friday Agreement, which advises ministers and co-ordinates activities relating to the promotion of Ulster-Scots as a living language.

Mr Frank McAveety: The establishment of an Ulster-Scots agency was in response to a particular set of circumstances in Northern Ireland. The Scottish Executive currently has no plans to set up a similar agency in Scotland. There is at present a wide range of groups and organisations in Scotland that support and promote Scots in its various forms.

  The Scottish Executive considers the Scots language to be an important part of Scotland's distinctive linguistic and cultural heritage. It appreciates that Scots is the language many children bring to school and advocates the inclusion of Scots in the school curriculum where appropriate. The Executive expects to develop a National Language Strategy to bring a new focus to all of Scotland's languages, including Scots.

Culture

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to increase the number of advisers and level of infrastructure required to support the music industry.

Mr Frank McAveety: Executive support and advice for the music industry is channelled primarily through the Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Enterprise/Highlands and Islands Enterprise networks. Joint working between these bodies provides the industry with an effective, efficient and strategically supportive infrastructure. Staffing, appropriate to the needs of the music industry, is the responsibility of the bodies concerned.

Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what further reforms are planned to Higher Still.

Peter Peacock: Educating for Excellence; the Scottish Executive's Response to the National Debate contains three commitments relating to National Qualifications. These are to consult on the future of the Age and Stage regulations; to address the relationship between Standard Grade and the new National Qualifications, and to reduce the amount of time spent on external exams.

  Consultation seminars to discuss these commitments were held in late November 2003 with representatives from local authorities, secondary schools and further education institutions, as well as pupils and parents. The consultation on the future of the Age and Stage regulations was announced on 11 March 2004 and will last until 4 June 2004, with any changes as a result of the exercise introduced for session 2005-06.

  Work to reduce unnecessary assessment continues through the subject review process.

Electricity

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of its renewable energy targets, Scotland is a net exporter of electricity.

Lewis Macdonald: Approximately 13.7% of electricity generated in Scotland in 2002 was exported.

Electricity

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of the plant margin of electricity generation in relation to estimated peak demand for electricity, in light of its renewable energy targets.

Lewis Macdonald: Installed capacity for electricity generation in Scotland currently amounts to around 10 Gigawatts (GW). Peak electricity demand in Scotland is currently estimated at around 6GW.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed progress report on the implementation of each of the 33 recommendations made in Nurturing Wealth Creation – A Report by the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group , published in February 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: I wrote to Dr Chris Masters, Chair of the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group (SMSG), in November last year with a full update of progress towards the recommendations made in Nurturing Wealth Creation. A copy of that letter can be found on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/government/smsgupdate.pdf .

  There are no current plans to publish a further update of progress, but I shall consider if that is appropriate once the on-going review of support to manufacturers, a SMSG recommendation, is complete.

Environment

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many calls the fly-tipping hotline received between 9 March and 9 April 2004.

Ross Finnie: The "Dumb Dumpers" Stop Line received 315 calls during its first month of operation.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will address the concerns of west coast prawn and scallop fishermen in relation to the "designated ports" process that applies in relation to landing haddock under the latest cod recovery programme.

Ross Finnie: The designated landing port arrangements for haddock apply to catches of haddock taken from the North Sea and EC waters of area IIa, not to west coast catches. However, the changes to the haddock management arrangements we expect to be agreed soon at Council – which include changes in the defined cod protection area, to the proportion of haddock to be taken under special permit arrangements and to the allocation of catches taken so far in the fishing year – will be beneficial to those who take haddock as a bycatch in fisheries directed at other species.

Food Safety

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is a common industry approach so that foods that do not contain nuts do not come into contact with nuts, or other foods that contain nuts, during production, in light of the effects on people with nut allergies.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Food Standards Agency has advised me that there are general requirements under the various hygiene regulations applying to food businesses which require all food and food equipment to be handled in such a way as to protect against any contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption or injurious to health.

  In addition, the agency has advised me that as part of its strategy to help protect the interests of food allergenic consumers, it is advising industry that where "may contain" warnings are used, they should be used responsibly and only when strictly necessary. They should be worded in a way that allows consumers with food allergies to make informed choices about what food they eat.

Food Safety

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been undertaken to examine the cause, or causes, of nut allergies and their increase in recent years and what the results of any such research have been.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) funds an on-going research programme, costing approximately £1 million per year, on food allergy and intolerance. Since 1995, this programme has funded 13 projects that directly address issues surrounding peanut allergy, including research into the causes, development and prevalence of this allergy. Details of these projects are available from the FSA's website.

  In addition, the National Research Register (NRR), a UK wide research database, records four on-going projects and six completed projects on the causes of nut allergies. Details of these projects are available from the NRR, a copy of which is in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 17404).

  Copies of any publications arising from completed projects listed in the NRR or on the FSA's website www.food.gov.uk will be available from the named contact.

Food Safety

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to ensure that caterers clearly and consistently label all foods that they sell which contain, or may have come into contact with, nuts.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Food Standards Agency has advised me that its board recently agreed a detailed strategy that would help protect the interests of food allergenic consumers. This includes working with all parts of the food industry, including caterers and enforcement bodies, as well as providing information for consumers themselves. As part of this work, the agency is currently producing best practice advice aimed at caterers and enforcement bodies on the issues raised by food allergy and food intolerance.

Food Safety

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that there is a comprehensive and consistent food industry approach to labelling food products that contain, or may have come into contact with nuts.

Mr Tom McCabe: I have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that new European rules have recently been agreed that will improve current labelling requirements and make it compulsory to list certain specified allergens including nuts and nut products. The new rules will also remove the current "25% rule", thus making it compulsory to list components of compound ingredients that make up less than 25% of the final product. These measures will be particularly helpful to allergic consumers so that those with food allergies can avoid ingredients that may damage their health.

Football

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what bodies will be responsible for implementing its action plan for youth football; what interaction will be required between such bodies, and at what level.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish Football Association, as the sport's governing body, will be primarily responsible for implementing the Action Plan for Scottish Youth Football but many other bodies which contributed to the review will have a role to play. A steering group including representatives from the SFA, the Executive,  sportscotland and other relevant organisations will be established to oversee the implementation process.

Football

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether public private partnerships will be used in any of the proposed schemes to build full size indoor football facilities.

Mr Frank McAveety: Stage One proposals are currently being assessed and an announcement about which proposal will progress to Stage Two – when financing arrangements will be firmed up – will be made by July 2004.

Football

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of a hardship fund being created by the Scottish Football Association, government funding would be withheld from football clubs refusing to join up to such a fund.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive does not provide Exchequer funding for football clubs.

Genetically Modified Crops

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has held with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government in the last six months in respect of field trials, seed listing and the possible commercial planting of GM crops.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has regular contact with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government, on a range of issues relating to GM crops including field trials, seed listing and other matters.

Health and Safety

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any submissions to the consultation regarding the draft Work at Height Regulations conducted by the Health and Safety Executive; whether these regulations will have any adverse impact on the outdoor industry, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government with regard to any potential impact on the outdoor industry of the draft Work at Height Regulations.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to obtain views from the outdoor industry and related organisations in connection with the draft Work at Height Regulations and, if not, whether it has any plans to do so.

Mr Frank McAveety: We are aware of the concerns felt by the outdoor and adventure activities sector about the implementation in the UK of the EC Directive on Temporary Work at Height. At our request, the Health and Safety Executive have been copying us into responses from Scotland to their consultation on the draft Regulations and, given the importance of this sector to Scotland, we will be ready to take this matter up with the UK Government if implementation plans seem likely to be damaging to that sector.

Holyrood Inquiry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7089 by Ms Patricia Ferguson on 1 April 2004 and the further supplementary statement (WS-19-005 to 008) to the Holyrood Inquiry by the Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Head of Legal and Parliamentary Services, whether "relevant documentation" includes reports made by the Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Head of Legal and Parliamentary Services regarding the Holyrood Progress Group to the (a) Minister for Parliamentary Business and the predecessor minister and (b) First Minister and, if so, whether such reports will be published and on what dates the reports were made.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the reports to the First Minister referred to in evidence to the Holyrood Inquiry by the Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Head of Legal and Parliamentary Services included information on the rising costs of the Holyrood Project and, if so, when such reports were made.

Patricia Ferguson: The "relevant documentation" referred to in the answer to question S2W-7089 includes reports made by the Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Head of Legal and Parliamentary Services to me and the previous Minister for Parliament and to the First Minister regarding the Holyrood Progress Group. These reports provided information from time to time on the progress of the Holyrood Project and key developments, including information on costs.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  These reports have been provided to the Holyrood Inquiry, who may place them on their website in due course. It is for the Inquiry to decide which reports they make public.

Holyrood Inquiry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all correspondence with the Holyrood Inquiry regarding the evidence of the First Minister to the inquiry will be published.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: It is a matter for the Inquiry to decide which documents they make public. The First Minister's evidence was submitted in writing and has already been published on the Holyrood Inquiry website as document MS/25/001-002.

Holyrood Inquiry

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister will give evidence in person to the Holyrood Inquiry.

Patricia Ferguson: The Inquiry announced on 25 March 2004 that they had decided not to ask the First Minister to supplement his written evidence by attending the Inquiry in person.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to overrule the decision by Strathclyde Joint Police Board to recover legal costs from Shirley McKie.

Cathy Jamieson: I understand that the Court of Session awarded costs to the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police in connection with the civil action brought by Ms McKie against the Chief Constable. The Scottish Executive does not have any powers to overrule the decision to recover those costs.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what the value of fiscal fines (a) were offered, (b) were collected and (c) remained outstanding in each of the last four years, broken down by district court.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following tables:

  Number of Fiscal Fines Offered And Accepted

  


Commission
Area

Number Offered

Number Accepted



1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03



Aberdeen City

N/A

1,267

749

928

749

511

391

401



Aberdeenshire

N/A

676

540

462

670

429

346

281



Angus

N/A

631

574

770

535

339

358

374



Argyll and Bute

N/A

495

625

605

407

N/A

334

379



Clackmannanshire

N/A

312

201

232

145

160

102

114



Dumfries and Galloway

N/A

587

636

933

983

454

381

530



Dundee City

N/A

1,495

1,376

1,377

769

794

647

661



East Ayrshire

N/A

938

788

921

647

508

417

495



East Dunbartonshire

N/A

371

363

460

249

191

207

211



East Lothian 

N/A

134

195

168

189

103

121

118



East Renfrewshire

N/A

295

242

286

240

186

144

84



Edinburgh, City of

N/A

N/A

1,264

1,408

598

N/A

645

725



Eilean Siar

N/A

147

135

N/A

103

89

102

N/A



Falkirk

N/A

920

927

615

418

469

463

340



Fife

N/A

1,387

881

617

1,342

783

N/A

345



Glasgow City

N/A

8,141

9,582

10,092

10,792

N/A

N/A

3,616



Highland

N/A

1,597

1,931

1,903

2,533

1,011

1,377

1,313



Inverclyde

N/A

693

475

689

486

425

265

387



Midlothian

N/A

257

171

214

122

137

98

106



Moray 

N/A

284

380

305

288

158

268

205



North Ayrshire

N/A

1,267

1,142

1,077

805

335

356

336



North Lanarkshire

N/A

2,973

2,331

3,692

2,754

2,014

1,777

2,328



Perth and Kinross

N/A

691

632

591

363

341

348

324



Renfrewshire

N/A

897

576

689

517

466

298

255



Scottish Borders

N/A

749

699

503

510

546

515

350



South Ayrshire

N/A

774

865

836

2,142

506

743

775



South Lanarkshire1

N/A

3,323

4,855

4,412

1,417

1,865

2,817

2,515



Stirling

N/A

593

N/A

N/A

236

305

N/A

N/A



West Dunbartonshire

N/A

633

688

684

870

263

302

319



West Lothian

N/A

706

547

N/A

339

327

295

N/A



Scotland

N/A

33,233

34,128

35,469

32,218

13,715

13,973

17,805



  Note:

  1. Excludes Lanark – fiscal fine details are not separately identifiable from other fine types.

  N/A: information not available.

  Value of Fiscal Fines Received And Outstanding

  


Commission
Area

Total Value Received in Financial Year (£000)

Total Value Outstanding at 31 March (£000)



1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03



Aberdeen City

34

23

18

19

13

6

4

3



Aberdeenshire

26

19

15

12

2

3

1

1



Angus

8

11

13

16

3

4

3

8



Argyll and Bute

13

18

14

15

1

0.2

1

1



Clackmannanshire

5

7

5

6

2

2

1

3



Dumfries and Galloway

41

27

21

26

10

5

10

9



Dundee City

26

32

25

27

7

4

11

7



East Ayrshire

19

15

14

15

2

4

7

6



East Dunbartonshire

10

8

8

9

3

12

1

3



East Lothian 

5

3

5

5

0.2

0.2

1

2



East Renfrewshire

11

6

10

3

2

1

1

1



Edinburgh, City of

21

N/A

30

35

8

N/A

1

9



Eilean Siar

6

2

N/A

N/A

1

1

N/A

N/A



Falkirk

28

18

17

13

3

3

3

4



Fife

15

14

N/A

16

1

6

N/A

1



Glasgow City

156

133

157

154

89

106

97

123



Highland

61

44

52

56

32

7

5

17



Inverclyde

15

13

8

13

2

3

4

3



Midlothian

N/A

5

3

5

1

1

1

1



Moray 

14

13

15

9

2

2

2

3



North Ayrshire

28

27

25

23

2

3

3

3



North Lanarkshire

N/A

N/A

63

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A



Perth and Kinross

21

15

15

15

N/A

N/A

12

3



Renfrewshire

24

23

16

12

2

10

5

4



Scottish Borders

17

22

22

16

11

4

5

6



South Ayrshire

13

13

13

13

5

6

6

2



South Lanarkshire

(1)

68

93

94

9

19

37

28



Stirling

7

11

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A



West Dunbartonshire

9

20

22

23

4

4

4

7



West Lothian

14

16

N/A

N/A

7

15

N/A

N/A



Scotland

650

627

700

650

225

229

228

258



  Note:

  1. Total value of fiscal fines received is not separately identifiable from other fine types.

  N/A: information not available.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what value of fixed penalty notices (a) were offered, (b) were collected and (c) remained outstanding in each of the last four years.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following tables:

  Number of Police Fixed Penalty Notices Issued for Stationary Vehicle Offences

  


Calendar Year

Total Number Issued1

Percentage2 Resulting In:



Payment

Registered Fine

Other3



1999

296,368

63

19

18



2000

185,987

64

19

17



2001

179,553

61

19

20



2002

164,037

61

20

19



  Notes:

  1. Includes estimated data.

  2. Notices where the outcome was outstanding or could not be separately identified are included in the number of total notices issued but are excluded from the percentage calculations. There were 37,618 such notices in 1999 and 9,316 in 2000.

  3. Includes cases where no further action is taken, e.g. notice cancelled, or where a hearing was requested.

  Value of Fixed Penalties Received

  


Financial Year

Value Received (£000)



1999-2000

7,041



2000-011

6,065



2001-02

9,996



2002-032

7,578



  Notes:

  1. Excludes City of Edinburgh – data not available.

  2. Excludes Eilean Siar, North Lanarkshire and Stirling – data not available.

Landfill

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what documentation it received from (a) Dumfries and Galloway Council and (b) Scottish Natural Heritage regarding the planning application for the development of a landfill site at Aucheninnes Moss.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Dumfries and Galloway Council fulfilled their obligations to provide the Scottish ministers with copies of all documentation associated with their consideration of the case. This includes the planning application and relevant plans, committee papers, any supporting documents such as the environmental statement, and representations on the proposed development by consultees, interest groups and individuals. This information is also made publicly available by the council.

  With regard to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), they are a statutory consultee in the planning process and they made representations to Dumfries and Galloway Council on the ecological aspects of the proposal. All correspondence from SNH was included with the documentation provided by the council.

Local Government

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities meet the standards set out in the European Charter on Local Self-Government and, if not, which criteria are not met.

Mr Andy Kerr: The UK government ratified the European Charter on Local Self-Government. It is not for local authorities to meet standards set out in this Charter, instead the Charter sets out a series of articles on the relationship between central and local government.

Local Government

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been included in any discussions with, or any advice issued to, local authorities or COSLA, in respect of the relationship between local authorities and Members of the Scottish Parliament.

Tavish Scott: The relationship between local authorities and members of the Scottish Parliament is a matter for individual local authorities, COSLA and the Parliament.

Local Government

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will invite Audit Scotland to review the governance arrangements within South Lanarkshire Council in light of the unsuccessful Greenhall planning application for a crematorium in Blantyre.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is the responsibility of the Accounts Commission for Scotland to commission the audit of local government, which includes as standard a review of local governance arrangements. It is also for the Accounts Commission to decide what further investigation might be merited in particular circumstances, whether of its own volition or on the recommendation of the Controller of Audit. Suggestions about particular issues of concern should be put directly to the Accounts Commission.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27527 by Mr Frank McAveety on 8 August 2002 and the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report , published on 1 March 2004, what steps will now be taken to introduce specific guidelines to local authorities regarding provision of social services to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has no plans to issue specific new guidelines for local authorities about the provision of social services to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or any other chronic illness. Guidance on the assessment of needs and care management for all people in need of social services is already in place.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to improve access to allowances and assistance for carers of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, in light of the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report , published on 1 March 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 gives significant new rights for carers, including an assessment, at any time, of their own support needs, independent of the needs of the person for whom they are caring. NHS boards and local authorities are required to inform carers of their right to assessment and to provide this to all carers, irrespective of the condition affecting the person cared for. The act also places duties on the NHS to provide information to carers on their rights of support, including financial support. This will help carers to access services and support earlier.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to instruct NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) to carry out a study into GP attitudes and practice with regard to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, with particular emphasis on the production of guidelines on the use of home visits and attitudes towards people affected, in light of the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report , published on 1 March 2004.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to instruct NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to undertake research into treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome with a view to providing guidelines into the most effective forms of treatment and care, in light of the report by the 25% ME Group, Severely Affected ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Analysis Report on Questionnaire Issued January 2004 - Analysis Report , published on 1 March 2004.

Mr Tom McCabe: It is for NHS QIS itself to devise its own work programme and set priorities within it. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the English equivalent body to NHS QIS, has agreed to develop good practice clinical guidelines for the care of people with CFS/ME. These will be available to clinicians in Scotland, who are encouraged to make use of all well-founded clinical guidelines.

NHS Funding

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS board funding deficits will affect the outcome of job evaluation exercises under Agenda for Change.

Mr Malcolm Chisholm: No.

  The cost of Agenda for Change will be met through NHS boards' general allocations. Boards have received record funding in this spending round and the costs of Agenda for Change will be subsumed within the very significant overall real terms uplift received by NHS boards this year. An additional £30 million was allocated to NHS boards in March 2004 in order to help meet the pressures relating to pay and service modernisation.

NHS Hospitals

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is subject to penalty charges if the number of patients treated exceeds a set figure and, if so, what charges the infirmary has incurred.

Malcolm Chisholm: No. The contract between NHS Lothian and Consort Healthcare for the provision of facilities and services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh does not provide for penalty charges to be incurred by NHS Lothian. However, should there be a material failure to deliver contractual commitments, for example relating to services, or the availability of accommodation, thus restricting the treatment of patients, penalties would be incurred by Consort Healthcare, under the agreed payment mechanism.

  A number of elements of the payment schedule are variable, depending on the number of patients seen and treated, for example, the cost of patients' meals.

NHS Services

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered reviewing its guidance on NHS responsibility for continuing health care contained in MEL (1996) 22 and whether these guidelines are prescriptive or allow for variation of practice between NHS boards.

Mr Tom McCabe: NHS bodies are expected to ensure that their policies, eligibility criteria and protocols for decisions on the provision of health services to meet continuing care health needs are consistent with Management Executive Letter (1996) 22.

  That guidance, however, is currently under review and will be updated over the coming months.

Nursing

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant nurses there are, broken down by their specialist health area.

Malcolm Chisholm: A Partnership for a Better Scotland  committed to trebling the existing number of nurse consultants to 54. Currently there are 23 nurse consultants in post in Scotland. A further five posts have been approved and are awaiting appointment.

  Nurse Consultant Posts in Scotland

  


Fields of Practice

Number of Posts



Public Health

3



Cancer

3



Mental Health

3



Learning Disabilities

2



Older Peoples' Services

2



Child

2



Midwifery

2



Infection Control

2



Acute Receiving

1



Health Protection

1



Family Planning and Sexual Health

1



Epidemiology

1



Total

23

Planning

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by South Lanarkshire Council on the unsuccessful Greenhall planning application for a crematorium in Blantyre.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish ministers do not hold such information which is a matter for South Lanarkshire Council, as planning authority.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the next annual report of the Planning Audit Unit.

Ms Margaret Curran: We propose to publish the report shortly.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage targets are for decisions to be made in respect of (a) major and (b) minor planning applications within (i) two and (ii) three months for (1) residential, (2) business and (3) other developments.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive does not set performance targets directly comparable to those in the question.

  There is a statutory duty for planning applications to be determined in two months from the receipt of a valid planning application (four months where applications require an Environmental Statement). This period can be extended with the agreement of the applicant. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 1: The Planning System contains (in paragraph 86) the performance targets which have been set for planning authorities and they are as follows:

  80% of planning applications should be determined in two months;

  85% of planning applications should be determined in three months;

  90% of householder applications should be determined in two months;

  95% of householder applications should be determined within three months, and

  80% of major applications should be determined within four months.

  SPP 1 can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/planning/spp1-00.asp, and is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 25316).

Radioactive Waste

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management has made since its appointment in November 2003 and when it intends to visit Scotland.

Ross Finnie: The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has begun its task of reviewing the long-term management of radioactive waste. It has designed a detailed work programme which is currently with ministers of the UK Government and the devolved administrations for approval.

  CoRWM has held six meetings in public at various locations and plans to hold its first meeting in Scotland on 6 and 7 May at the Moat House Hotel in Glasgow. This will be an open meeting where members of the public will be able to see the committee at work and will also have the opportunity to ask the committee questions.

  Further information about CoRWM's work can be accessed from its website www.corwm.org.uk.

Regeneration

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the Royal Dunfermline Urban Regeneration Company's bid for Pathfinder status.

Ms Margaret Curran: Ministers welcome the Royal Dunfermline Partnership's proposals for an Urban Regeneration Company (URC). Officials from the Executive will be working closely with the partnership over the coming months to develop these proposals. Further announcements on URCs will follow in due course.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of reports that the world's first grid-connected wave farm will be established in Portugal using Scottish technology.

Lewis Macdonald: I welcome the success of a Scottish renewables company in winning a contract to provide a demonstrator project in Portugal, based on technology which was developed and is currently being trialled in Scotland. This is an example of how far ahead Scotland is in developing wave energy technology.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps it is taking to give emerging renewable energy technologies, including wave power, the (a) technical and (b) financial support needed to ensure that Scottish research expertise is commercially developed in Scotland before being developed in other countries.

Lewis Macdonald: Through the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS), the Executive is working in partnership with academia and industry to produce an action plan to accelerate the commercial deployment of marine energy devices and to develop a manufacturing base for marine energy technologies in Scotland. The development of marine technologies will also benefit from the work of the new Energy Intermediary Technology Institute, which will foster closer collaboration between the academic and business sectors in Scotland.

  The European Marine Energy Test Centre off Orkney, of which the Executive is the major funder, will allow Scotland's marine energy industry to test, accredit and showcase its products for the growing world market.

  All renewables technologies are eligible for support under the terms of the Renewables Obligation Scotland.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many care homes have deregistered in each of the last five years, broken down by category.

Mr Tom McCabe: Between 1st April 2002 and 31st March 2003, 376 Care Homes de-registered. Nine were for older people, 15 for people with physical disabilities, 72 for people with mental health problems, 243 for people with learning disabilities and 37 for other client groups. The providers deregistered the services because their nature meant that they no longer fell within the definition of a care home service in the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. Prior to 1st April 2002, Care Homes would not have deregistered in this way.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many former care homes have re-registered with the Care Commission as a housing support service.

Mr Tom McCabe: The provision of information on specific registration decisions is an operational matter for the Care Commission.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why 376 care homes deregistered in the year ending March 2003, broken down by intended client group.

Mr Tom McCabe: Of the 376 care homes which deregistered in the months leading up to 31 March 2003, nine were for older people, 15 for people with physical disability or illness, 72 for people with mental health problems, 243 for people with learning disabilities and 37 for other client groups. The needs of the former residents of registered care homes are continuing to be met, but the structure of the care and support packages in place to meet those needs has changed, in most cases as a consequence of the introduction of the new Supporting People programme.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns in respect of 376 care homes deregistering and eight care homes opening in the year ended March 2003.

Mr Tom McCabe: No. The nature of these services changed, which meant that they no longer fell within the "care home service" definition in the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. Most, if not all, of them are housing support services, now also regulated by the Care Commission.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether people moving from a registered care home system to a package of care under housing support services will be given appropriate care and support in accordance with their needs.

Ms Margaret Curran: When people move from a registered care home into the community local authorities have a duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to assess their needs and provide appropriate services. A single shared assessment under Scottish Executive Circular No. CCD8/2001 will identify an individual's needs and wishes. A package of care, personal support and housing support will then be assembled in accordance with those identified needs. Local authorities are required to notify the health board and housing authority if it appears that there are any services in either of these fields which the relevant agency may be able to provide. In the event of housing support services being required the local authority may either provide the service itself or contract with a housing support or care provider. The provider must be registered with the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission).

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why, in March 2003, there was bed blocking in the Highland Council area when the occupancy rate of care homes for older people was 89% and there were 211 vacant places.

Mr Tom McCabe: The 15 April 2003 ISD Patients ready for discharge in NHSScotland  census recorded 39 Highland Council patients assessed as needing a care home place. Of these, 24 were awaiting funding from the council and 15 were awaiting a place in a care home of their choice.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors local authority expenditure on road maintenance and, if so, how much each local authority has spent on road maintenance in each of the last 20 years, expressed also as a percentage of central government funding.

Nicol Stephen: Information relating to expenditure on transport, including road maintenance, controlled by local authorities, and within the Scottish ministers' responsibility, is shown at Table 11.1 of Scottish Transport Statistics No. 22 , 2003 Edition, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 29044). The 2003 edition shows detailed figures from 1993-94 onwards. Figures for previous years will be available in earlier editions of the publication.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations local authorities have to maintain highways in a safe condition and what action it has taken to ensure that they fulfil such obligations.

Nicol Stephen: The general powers and duties of local roads authorities are set out in section 1 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. Specific duties and responsibilities are detailed throughout that act. As the statutory roads authorities it is a matter for councils to manage their day to day business. Scottish ministers cannot normally intervene.

Schools

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to improve school transport services.

Peter Peacock: The Executive issued revised guidance on school transport to authorities in August 2003. In addition, the Executive supports the Safer Routes to School initiative and provides funding for local authority School Travel Co-ordinators, whose responsibilities include promoting safe and healthy travel for school children and facilitating the establishment of local School Travel Teams.

Schools

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to evaluate the use of "yellow school buses".

Peter Peacock: The Department for Transport published an evaluation pilot schemes in November 2003. The report, Evaluation of First Yellow Bus Pilots Schemes , can be accessed via the Department for Transport's website www.dft.gov.uk .

Schools

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support or encourage the use of "yellow school buses" by local authorities.

Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7604 on 4 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  It is for local authorities themselves to decide how they will fulfil their statutory duty to provide school transport. No Scottish authority chose to participate in the recent pilot schemes evaluated by the Department for Transport.

Schools

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for monitoring and promoting implementation of Guidance – How to run a successful Safer Routes to School , published in December 1999.

Nicol Stephen: The guidance is a toolkit resource for use at a local level by organisers of Safer Routes to School (SRTS) schemes. Information on the number of such schemes now in place in Scotland is expected to be available centrally by the end of July.

  In addition to the guidance, the Executive is promoting Safer Routes to School schemes though provision of funding to local authorities. The Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) funding allocation may be used by councils for SRTS schemes and is currently at a record level of £8.2 million per year. This will rise next year to £8.65 million.

  We have also made available funding for School Travel Co-ordinators in all local authorities. Typical roles of co-ordinators include the promotion of the health and environmental benefits walking or cycling to school, the promotion of best practice in individual schools, including Safer Routes to School and advising on spending of CWSS allocations and co-ordination of work across local authority departments.

Schools

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many safer routes to school schemes have been established in each local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: This information is not held centrally at present, but will be obtained from Executive-funded School Travel Co-ordinators who are now in place in most local authorities in Scotland. I expect the information to be available by the end of July.

Scottish Executive

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how often it used videoconferencing in the conduct of its business with stakeholders in each year from 1999 to 2003, broken down by department.

Mr Andy Kerr: Videoconferencing suites are provided as shared facilities within certain Scottish Executive buildings and are available for use by ministers and by all staff regardless of their department. Bookings are not recorded by department. The number of bookings and the hours of use are recorded, and this information is provided in the following table.

  


Year

Bookings

Usage (hrs)



1999

594

1,023



2000

801

1,433



2001

759

1,241



2002

899

1,548



2003

1,064

1,835

Scottish Executive

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of the use of videoconferencing in the conduct of its business.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive encourages the use of videoconferencing as a cost and time effective option for holding meetings. The facilities available and instructions for their use are publicised on the Scottish Executive Intranet.

Scottish Executive

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what facilities are available in each of its departments for the use of videoconferencing, broken down by size and accessibility.

Mr Andy Kerr: Videoconferencing suites are provided, as shared facilities accessible to ministers and all staff, within the following Scottish Executive offices:

  


Location

Office



Edinburgh

St Andrews House



Edinburgh

Victoria Quay



Edinburgh

Saughton House



Edinburgh

Pentland House



Glasgow

Meridian Court



Glasgow

Europa Building



Perth

Strathearn House



Inverness

Longman House



Dundee

Wellgate



Aberdeen

Greyfriar's House



  These videoconferencing rooms can each accommodate eight to 10 people. Their use is not restricted to particular departments.

  In addition, videoconferencing facilities have been ordered for the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department Area Offices in Inverurie, Portree and Inverness.

Scottish Executive

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to hire videoconferencing facilities in remote locations for the conduct of its business in each year from 1999 to 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has no records to indicate that any videoconferencing facilities were hired within the period 1999 to 2003. It is possible that individuals within departments could have made use of non Scottish Executive videoconferencing facilities, within other public sector organisations or commercially available for hire, but no central records of such activities are maintained.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) public relations, (b) marketing, (c) market research and (d) opinion research companies have been employed by it since its establishment; what projects each such company has worked on, and how much each such company has been paid.

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on (a) public relations, (b) marketing, (c) market research and (d) opinion research since its establishment.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Scottish Executive Publications

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its documents and publications have been issued and subsequently withdrawn in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: No central record of publications which have been withdrawn is maintained within the Scottish Executive. The information could only be obtained by trawling individual departments, which would be at disproportionate cost.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff it employs (a) directly, (b) by secondment and (c) on a contract or consultancy basis to fulfil its media relations function.

Mr Andy Kerr: Media relations work is carried out by the Media and Communication Division's Press Office. The Press Office employs directly 50 communications specialists, including those working on strategic communications and media monitoring. The Press Office does not at present have any secondees or people working on a contract or consultancy basis.

Scottish Executive Staff

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials have been seconded to it since May 1999, broken down by post and department and specifying the organisation seconded from and by whom each such official's salary is paid.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of officials seconded to the Scottish Executive since May 1999 is estimated at 630.   The table provides the requested information broken down by department and donor organisation only. The information about posts in each department and salary arrangements cannot be made readily available. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Generally, inward secondees continue to be paid their salaries by the employing organisation with the costs reimbursed by the importing Scottish Executive department.

  Inward Secondments to Scottish Executive since May 1999

  


Scottish Executive -Departments

Donor Organisations



Corporate Services

COSLA

Registers of Scotland

Scottish Widows



NHS Grampian

Scottish Power

South Lanarkshire Council



NI Office
 



Development Department

Aberdeen City Council

Edinburgh College of Art

Office of Deputy Prime Minister



BRE Scotland

Edinburgh City Council

Regeringskansliet



British Council

Falkirk Council

Scottish Enterprise



Carlbro

Falkland Islands Govt

Scottish Homes



City of Edinburgh Council

Fife Council

Scottish Museums Council



Clackmannanshire Council

Glasgow Housing Association

SCVO



Crown Estate

Henderson Loggie

Stagecoach



DETR

Inland Revenue

Stirling Council



DfES

Kinross Council

Strathclyde Fire Board



Dundee City Council

Lloyds TSB Foundation

Strathclyde Police



East Lothian Council

Lothian Health

Treasury



East Renfrewshire Council

Moray Council

University of Dundee 



Education Department

Aberdeen City Council

ISD Scotland

Scottish Enterprise Glasgow



Audit Scotland

Islay and Jura Council

Scottish Funding Councils



Clackmannanshire Council

Learning and Teaching Scotland

Scottish Homes



Dumfries and Galloway Council

Mental Welfare Commission

Scottish Library and Information 



Council



Dundee City Council

Midlothian Council

South Ayrshire Council



East Ayrshire Council

NHS Health Scotland

South Lanarkshire Council



East Lothian Council

North Lanarkshire Council

Stirling Council



Edinburgh City Council

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Summerhill Education Centre



Fife Constabulary

Open University

The TASC Agency



Fife Council

Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company

University Sheffield



Glasgow City Council

Perth and Kinross Council

Volunteer Development Scot



Glasgow University 

Renfrewshire Council

West Dunbartonshire Council



Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust

RNIB

West Lothian Council



Higher Court Dresden

ROS

Yorkhill Hospital NHS Trust



Environment and Rural Affairs Department

Aberdeenshire Council

Hannah Research Institute

Scottish Enterprise Borders



East of Scotland Water

Highlands and Islands Partnership

Scottish Natural Heritage



 Authority



Forestry Commission

Mott MacDonald Ltd

Scottish Water



Forth Estuary Forum

NFU Scotland

SEPA



Hamilton Enterprise Development Company

Perth and Kinross council

The Crown Estate



Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department

Ayrshire East Education Authority

Glasgow City Council

Scottish Power



Benefits Agency

Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

South Lanarkshire Council



Cardonald College 

Inverclyde Council

Stevenson College 



City of Edinburgh Council

Job Centre Plus

Strathclyde Euro Partnership



Ernst and Young

Lanarkshire Careers Service

The Highland Council



Fife Careers Ltd

Ministry of Defence

University of Strathclyde 



Finnish Interior Ministry

Scottish Enterprise

Young Enterprise Scotland



Glasgow Caledonian University 

Scottish Funding Councils



Finance and Central Services Department

Audit Scotland

Glasgow City Council

New Opportunities Fund



Cabinet Office

Highland Council

NHS Lanarkshire



DfEE

House of Commons

Perth and Kinross Council



Employment Services

Job Centre Plus

Scottish Court Service



Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Lord Chancellor's Dept.

Scottish Enterprise



GCHQ




Health Department

Aberdeen Cyrenians

Grampian NHS Health Board

PriceWaterhouseCoopers



Aberdeen University 

Greater Glasgow NHS Board

Royal National Orthopaedic



NHS Trust



Aberdeenshire Council

HEBS

Scot Nat Blood Transfusion



Angus Council Employment

Highland Community Care Forum

Scottish Borders Council



Appeals Service

Highland Council

Scottish Centre for Infection



and Environmental Health



Argyll and Clyde NHS

Highland NHS Health Board

Scottish Prison Service



 Board



Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board

Home Office

South Ayrshire Council



Borders NHS Board

Lanarkshire NHS Health Board

South Lanarkshire Council



Care Commission

Lothian NHS Health Board

Stirling Council



College of Physicians 

National Primary Care Development Team

The City of Edinburgh Council



Common Services Agency

NHS in Scotland-ISD

The State Hospital



DTI

NHS Quality Improvements, Scotland

UNISON



Dundee City Council

NHS Scotland Common Services Agency

University of Edinburgh 



East Ayrshire Council

North Bristol NHS Trust

University of St Andrews 



Fife DAAT

North Lanarkshire Council

University of Stirling 



Forth Valley Health Board

Tayside NHS Board

West Dunbartonshire Council



Glasgow City Council

PHACE SCOTLAND

West Lothian Council



Justice Department

Balfour and Manson

Perth and Kinross Council

South Lanarkshire Council



Crown Office

Registers Of Scotland

Strathclyde Fire Brigade



Dumfries and Galloway Council

Renfrewshire Council

Strathclyde Police



Edinburgh Council

SACRO

Strathclyde Police



Fife Council

Scottish Fire Service

Tayside Fire Brigade



Fife Fire and Rescue

Scottish Legal Aid Board

University of Glasgow 



Lothian and Borders Police

Scottish Prison Service

University of Dundee 



NCH Action For Children, Scotland

SCVO

University of Stirling

Scottish Executive Staff

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials have been seconded from it since May 1999, broken down by post and department and specifying the organisation seconded to and by whom each such official's salary is paid, and what information it has on each such official's role within the organisation to which they have been seconded.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of officials seconded from the Scottish Executive since May 1999 is 383. The table provides the requested information broken down by host organisation only. Details of post, department, specific roles and salary arrangements cannot be made readily available. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Generally, outward secondees usually continue to be paid their salaries by the Scottish Executive. Before an outward secondment opportunity is advertised, an agreement is reached between the Executive and the host organisation as to who will meet the costs. Where the host organisation agrees to pay, the Scottish Executive seeks reimbursement on a quarterly basis throughout the financial year.

  Scottish Executive Outward Secondments since May 1999

  


Host Organisations



Aid International

Laidlaw Youth Project

Scottish Court Services



Angus Council

Learning and Teaching Scotland

Scottish Courts Administration



Audit Scotland

Lloyds TSB Foundation

Scottish Development International



Barnardos

Lord Fraser Holyrood Enquiry Team

Scottish Enterprise



BBC Children In Need

Lord Presidents Office

Scottish Financial Enterprise



BBSRC

Lothian Health

Scottish Funding Council



Big Brothers and Sisters

MacMillan Cancer Relief

Scottish Homes



Border Health Board

MAFF

Scottish Leadership Foundation



British Council Indonesia

McGrigor Donald

Scottish Parliament



British Embassy, USA

Meat Hygiene Service

Scottish Power



Cabinet Office

Mobility and Access Committee Scotland

Scottish Prison Service



Cairngorm Partnership

National Audit Office

Scottish Reporters Children Administration



City of Edinburgh Council

National Criminal Intelligence Service

Scottish Criminal Records Office



Commission for Racial Equality

NHS:Univiversity of Strathclyde

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations



Common Services Agency

NIDOS

Scottish Environment Protection Agency



Commonwealth Secretariat

ODPM

SFA EURO 2008 bid



COSLA

Office Fair Trading

Scottish National Heritage



Crown Office

Office of the Commission for Public Appointments

Social Investment Scotland



CSC in Scotland

OFSTED

Scottish Qualifications Authority



Dementia Services

OFTEL

St James's Palace



Department for Culture, Media and Sport

OneNorthEast

Standards Commission of Scotland



Department for International Development

Opportunity Links

Strategic Rail Authority



Department for Transport

Patent Office

Strathclyde University



Department of Environment

PCS (union)

Structural Funds



Department of Heath

Planning NSW, Sydney

Student at the Institute of Political Studies, Bordeaux



DTI

POUCS/SACOT

Scottish University for Industry



East of Scotland Water

Prime Minister's Office

The Highland Council



European Commission

Princes Trust

The Lighthouse Trust



Events Scotland

Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust

The Royal Society of Edinburgh



FairPlay Scotland

Quality Scotland

The Standards Commission for Scotland



FCO, British Embassy, Berlin

Racial Equality In Scotland

Trade Partners UK



Fife Council

Royal Bank of Scotland

Traveline Scotland



Fife Enterprise

Royal Botanic

Treasury



Food Standards Agency

Royal Society Protection of Birds

Treasury Solicitor



Foreign Commonwealth Office

Rural Payments Agency

Universities Scotland



Forestry Commission

SCDI

University of Dundee



Girlguiding Scotland

Schlumberger

University of Glasgow



Glasgow City Council

Scot Archive network Project (SCAN)

University of Strathclyde



Glasgow Enterprise Company

Scotland Against Drugs

Valuation Office Agency



Glasgow Housing Association

Scotland's Garden Trust

Water Industry Commissioner



Glasgow University

Scottish and Newcastle plc

West Dunbartonshire Partnership



Health Economics Research Unit

Scottish Archive Network

Wester Hailes Partnership



Highland and Islands Enterprise

Scottish Arts Council

Western Isles Council



HM Treasury

Scottish Business in the Community

Young Scot



Home Office

Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Youthlink Scotland



Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Scottish Civic Forum
 



Just World Partners

Scottish Council Foundation

Sport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding it, or any agency in receipt of public funds, has provided to (a) youth, (b) grassroots and (c) all levels of rugby in each year since 1997, broken down by source of funding.

Mr Frank McAveety: Rugby has benefited from considerable funding through  sportscotland since 1997 as noted in the tables below. However, it is not possible to identify funding over the specific categories requested as an award may cover various categories. Rugby has also benefited from the School Sports Co-ordinator Programme and will continue to benefit from the Active Schools Programme. Rugby is also a core sport in the Scottish Institute of Sport and the Area Institutes and will also have benefited from many of the multi-sport awards made under the Lottery Sports Fund.  Sportscotland has also funded the post of Youth Development Manager for women's rugby at £30,000 per year since 2000-01.

  EventScotland is contributing £100,000 with sportscotland contributing £20,000 towards the hosting of the Under 21 rugby world cup in June of this year. Glasgow City Council, the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Borders Council have also contributed towards the costs of the tournament.

  Funding for rugby from other public sources is not held centrally.

  Table A: Lottery Sports Fund

  


Year

Capital

Sports Facilities

TAP

Junior Groups

Awards for All

Performance Coach



No

£

No

£

No

£

No

£

No

£

No

£



1997-98

2

359,200
 
 

16

44,731
 
 
 
 
 
 



1998-99

2

42,726
 
 

28

41,790
 
 

4

9,618
 
 



1999-2000

1

121,300
 
 

29

79,936
 
 

2

2,494
 
 



2000-01
 
 

1

41,288
 
 

1

40,000

2

6,997

1

8,089



2001-02
 
 

1

80,000

33

74,250

1

40,000

5

15,292

1

9,999



2002-03
 
 

1

158,960

31

20,660

2

56,600

3

8,759
 
 



2003-04
 
 
 
 

30

10,000

2

70,000

8

18,636
 
 



Total

5

523,226

3

280,248

167

271,367

6

206,600

24

61,796

2

18,088



  Table B: Development Grant aid to Governing Body

  


Year

Scottish Rugby Union

Scotland Rugby League



1997-98

702,000
 



1998-99

702,000
 



1999-2000

700,000
 



2000-01

700,000

15,000



2001-02

600,000

9,000



2002-03

550,000
 



2003-04

500,000
 



Total

4,454,000

24,000

Tourism

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been provided for the 2004 Western Isles Tourist Board campaign by (a) it, (b) Executive agencies and (c) the Western Isles Tourist Board.

Mr Frank McAveety: None. The funding of the Western Isles Tourist Board campaign is an operational matter for the board.

Tourism

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sonic posters will be in use as part of the 2004 Western Isles Tourist Board campaign in (a) Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh and (c) London.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is an operational matter for Western Isles Tourist Board. However, I understand that one sonic poster will be in operation in each of these locations during April.

Tourism

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost is of each sonic poster used in the 2004 Western Isles Tourist Board campaign.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is an operational matter for Western Isles Tourist Board.

UK Energy Bill

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in respect of how clause 76(5) of the UK Energy Bill provides for a transfer of functions in relation to "areas outside the territorial sea", in light of section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998 which enables transfer of functions "in or as regards Scotland", where "Scotland" includes the internal waters and territorial sea of the United Kingdom as are adjacent to Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive maintains regular contact with Her Majesty's Government in respect of matters of mutual interest including the UK Energy Bill. The potential exercise of the powers that would be conferred by virtue of clause 85(5) of the bill - formerly clause 76(5) and which does not have a direct relationship with section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998 - is part of that contact.

Water Fluoridation

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the fluoridation of drinking water supplies.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5804 on 9 February 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Wildlife

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the use by the Deer Commission for Scotland of emergency powers under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 to effect the mass cull of deer; whether it is seeking any information from the commission regarding the recent use of such powers at Glenfeshie; whether it will consider the introduction of a moratorium pending a full investigation of the issues involved, and whether, in particular, it will instruct the commission not to implement any further mass cull without a debate in the Parliament where the issues can be fully explored.

Ross Finnie: Parliament placed duties on the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 to take action when it is satisfied that serious damage is being caused to agriculture, woodland the natural heritage or a risk to public safety. That action includes the emergency culling of deer under section 10.

  On the carrying out of this duty in respect of Glenfeshie, I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7432 on 4 May 2004 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Ministers will reflect on what conclusions to draw in the light of the report on the Glenfeshie operations. Given the obligations on the DCS under the Deer Act, the options available are unlikely to include a moratorium on culling.

Wildlife

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that proper practices have been followed in respect of the mass cull of deer at Glenfeshie, and whether it will seek an independent opinion in respect of the commission's actions.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested a report from the Deer Commission for Scotland in respect of the mass cull of deer in Glenfeshie; whether any such report will consider whether the commission acted properly and legally at all times and, if so, what independent opinion will be sought to inform such a report.

Ross Finnie: Ministers have requested a report on the conduct of the recent culls in Glenfeshie and in particular the role of the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS). It will cover issues of legality, public safety, deer welfare and food hygiene. The report will be prepared by officials external to DCS, drawing on veterinary, food safety and other expert advice. Officials met with Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) and DCS on 6 April to discuss the relevant issues.

Wildlife

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deer Commission for Scotland regard deer as vermin.

Ross Finnie: While there is no basis within the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 for deer to be regarded vermin, any animal present locally in such high numbers as to impact materially on other legitimate interests requires to be effectively managed and controlled; as provided for in the act.

Wildlife

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deer Commission for Scotland has outlined to the Executive its reasons for not supporting deer fencing as an effective method of protecting trees; if not, whether this contributed to emergency measures to cull deer being taken, and whether the commission has acted upon advice in respect of appropriate practice in adopting certain types of fencing.

Ross Finnie: The Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) have stated publicly that fencing can be an effective tool for deer management and have supported its use in a number of locations.

  DCS is obliged under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 to take action if it is satisfied that there is a risk of serious damage to agriculture, woodland, the natural heritage or a risk to public safety However, the act specifically prevents the DCS from requiring an owner or occupier to construct a deer fence.

  Having consulted interested parties, DCS is currently working with Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department to produce, a joint policy statement on deer fencing.

Wildlife

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional powers are required to increase the effectiveness of the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) in exercising its statutory duties.

Ross Finnie: At the Stage 2 debate on the Nature Conservation Bill,   we said we would consider any clear specific evidence from DCS that current legislation is insufficient, or cannot be made to work.

  However, we consider that the present legislation is adequate and the DCS has shown it can use its regulatory powers to take effective action to control deer where required.

Wildlife

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the work of Deer Commission Scotland is progressing to address the level of the national deer herd.

Ross Finnie: This is primarily a matter for the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS). However, I am aware that the commission is addressing the issue of the conservation, control and sustainable management of deer in Scotland through a range of initiatives. These are based on identifying and dealing with the impacts of deer rather than overall numbers. The initiatives include DCS working with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department to address priority areas where grazing, in particular by wild deer, may be causing damage or where there are risks to public safety on roads; developing through a deer sector Steering Group a suite of Best Practice Guides for all aspects of deer management, and developing clear policy guidance on the use of deer fencing.

  The responsibility for managing deer populations presently lies squarely with owners and occupiers of land. The Deer Commission for Scotland's primary role is to advise on and facilitate that task, but it will use its full range of powers and duties when necessary.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Staff

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S1W-26960 by Sir David Steel on 6 August 2002, how many of the parliament's staff have been seconded to it since May 1999, specifying (a) post held, (b) name of organisation seconded from and (c) who pays the salary of each such staff member.

Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The information requested is set out below. I should explain that the SPCB assumed its employer role for the staff below Chief Executive level on 1 April 2000. Accordingly, there is no return for the year 1999 during which year the staff working in support of the Parliament were employed by the then Scottish Office and later by the Scottish Executive. I should also explain that the information provided is the total number of secondees during each of the years in question.

  Seconded Posts to Scottish Parliament Period 2000-04 (Salaries Paid By the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body)

  Year 2000

  


Total Secondees

Post Held

Parent Organisation1,2,



53

Clerk Team Leader x 3

SE



Senior Assistant Clerk x 3

SE



Project Officer x 6

SE



Head of IT

SE



Director of Clerking and Reporting

SE



Head of Facilities Management

SE



Assistant Private Secretary to Clerk/Chief Executive

SE



Personal Secretary x 2

SE



Senior Research Specialist

SE



Assistant Clerk

SE



Pensions Administrator

SE



Office Administrator

SE



Facilities Manager

SE



Security Office Manager

SE



Personnel Administrator

SE



Technical Analyst/Consultant

SE



Public Relations and Exhibitions Officer

SE



Project Officer – Official Communication

SE



Finance and Communications Officer

SE



Personal Assistant

SE



Technical Services Manager

SE



Helpdesk and Network Support Officer

SE



Senior Assistant Legal Adviser x 2

SE



Director of Legal Services

SE



Technical Support Manager

SE



Customer Services Co-Ordinator

SE



Database Assistant

SE



Director of Corporate Affairs

SE



Senior Purchasing Manager

OGC



Principal Research Specialist

HoC



Resource Manager

HoC



Head of Research and Information Services

HoC



Sub Editor

HoC



Deputy Editor

HoC



Editor

HoC



Secretary to Holyrood Progress Group

SE



Construction Co-Ordinator

SE



Private Secretary to Deputy Presiding Officers

SE



Technical Analyst

SE



Assistant Legal Adviser x 3

SE



  Year 2001

  


Total Secondees

Post Held

Parent Organisation1,2,3



51


Clerk Team Leader x 3

SE



Senior Assistant Clerk x 3

SE



Project Officer x 6

SE



Head of IT

SE



Director of Clerking and Reporting

SE



Head of Facilities Management

SE



Assistant Private Secretary to Clerk/Chief Executive

SE



Senior Research Specialist

SE



Assistant Clerk

SE



Pensions Administrator

SE



Office Administrator

SE



Facilities Manager

SE



Security Office Manager

SE



Personnel Administrator

SE



Technical Analyst/Consultant

SE



Public Relations and Exhibitions Officer

SE



Project Officer – Official Communication

SE



Finance and Communications Officer

SE



Personal Assistant

SE



Technical Services Manager

SE



Helpdesk and Network Support Officer

SE



Senior Assistant Legal Adviser x 3

SE



Director of Legal Services

SE



Personal Secretary

SE



Technical Support Manager

SE



Customer Services Co-Ordinator

SE



Database Assistant

SE



Director of Corporate Affairs

SE



Senior Purchasing Manager

OGC



Holyrood Project Director

SE



Construction Co-Ordinator

SE



Private Secretary to Deputy Presiding Officers

SE



Technical Analyst

SE



Legal Trainee

SE



Assistant Legal Adviser x 4

SE



Comparative Parliamentary Enquiries Officer

HoC



External Liaison Officer

DFID



  Year 2002

  


Total Secondees

Post Held

Parent Organisation1,2,3



59

Clerk Team Leader x 2

SE



Senior Assistant Clerk x 4

SE



Project Officer x 6

SE



Director of Clerking and Reporting

SE



Head of Facilities Management

SE



Assistant Private Secretary to Clerk/Chief Executive

SE



Assistant Clerk

SE



Pensions Administrator x 2

SE



Office Administrator

SE



Facilities Manager

SE



Security Office Manager

SE



Personnel Administrator

SE



Technical Analyst/Consultant

SE



Public Relations and Exhibitions Officer

SE



Project Officer – Official Communication

SE



Finance and Communications Officer

SE



Personal Assistant

SE



Technical Services Manager

SE



Helpdesk and Network Support Officer

SE



Senior Assistant Legal Adviser x 4

SE



Director of Legal Services

SE



Personal Secretary

SE



Technical Support Manager

SE



Customer Services Co-Ordinator

SE



Database Assistant

SE



Senior Purchasing Manager

OGC



Holyrood Project Director

SE



Construction Co-Ordinator

SE



Private Secretary to Deputy Presiding Officers

SE



Technical Analyst

SE



Clerk Team Leader

SE



Legal Trainee x 3

SE



Assistant Legal Adviser x 6

SE



Comparative Parliamentary Enquiries Officer

HoC



External Liaison Officer

DFID



Sponsorship Officer

SE



Project Officer Finance

SE



Special Project Officer

SE



Development Officer

SE



  Year 2003

  


Total Secondees

Post Held

Parent Organisation1,2,3,4



5

Clerk Team Leader x 3

SE



Senior Assistant Clerk x 4

SE



Project Officer x 6

SE



Personnel Administrator

SE



Technical Analyst/Consultant

SE



Public Relations and Exhibitions Officer

SE



Project Officer – Official Communication

SE



Finance and Communications Officer

SE



Personal Assistant

SE



Technical Services Manager

SE



Helpdesk and Network Support Officer

SE



Senior Assistant Legal Adviser x 3

SE



Director of Legal Services

SE



Personal Secretary

SE



Technical Support Manager

SE



Customer Services Co-Ordinator

SE



Database Assistant

SE



Senior Purchasing Manager

OGC



Holyrood Project Director

SE



Construction Co-Ordinator

SE



Private Secretary to Deputy Presiding Officers

SE



Technical Analyst

SE



Assistant Legal Adviser x 7

SE



Comparative Parliamentary Enquiries Officer

HoC



External Liaison Officer

DFID



Sponsorship Officer

SE



Legal Trainee x 3

SE



Project Officer Finance

SE



Special Project Officer

SE



Development Officer

SE



Researcher

NIA



Database Support Librarian

SE



Reporter x 2

NIA



Senior Assistant Legal Adviser

NIA



  Year 2004

  


Total Secondees

Post Held

Parent Organisation1,2,3



41

Clerk team Leader

SE



Senior Assistant Clerk x 2

SE



Project Officer x 5

SE



Public Relations and Exhibitions Officer

SE



Project Officer – Official Communication

SE



Finance and Communications Officer

SE



Personal Assistant

SE



Technical Services Manager

SE



Helpdesk and Network Support Officer

SE



Senior Assistant Legal Adviser x 4

SE



Director of Legal Services

SE



Personal Secretary

SE



Technical Support Manager

SE



Customer Services Co-Ordinator

SE



Database Assistant

SE



Senior Purchasing Manager

OGC



Holyrood Project Director

SE



Construction Co-Ordinator

SE



Private Secretary to Deputy Presiding Officers

SE



Assistant Legal Adviser x 5

SE



Comparative Parliamentary Enquiries Officer 

HoC



External Liaison Officer

DFID



Sponsorship Officer

SE



Special Project Officer

SE



Researcher

NIA



Trainee Solicitor x 2

SE



Assistant Legal Adviser

Shepherd & Wedderburn



Payroll Administrator

SE



  Notes:

  1. OGC, Office of Government Commerce.

  2. HoC, House of Commons.

  3. DFID, Department of International Development.

  4. NIA, Northern Ireland Assembly.

Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the current position is of Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange (SPBE); what future plans there are for SPBE, and whether the future activities of SPBE will be subject to approval by the Standards Committee.

Andrew Welsh (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange remains as a Parliament-Business partnership. Its future plans include a launch in June of its new brochure of opportunities giving MSPs the chance to talk with representatives of organisations offering to provide placement experiences.

  Protocols are established between The Exchange and the Standards Committee. These include provision for consultation if there is a desire by any party to revise agreed arrangements. The Standards Committee is to receive The Exchange's reports to SPCB and may meet with Exchange representatives annually.

Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether all minutes and documentation associated with Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange will be published, with particular reference to (a) reports of MSPs who have participated in exchange programmes and (b) copies of any agreements and memoranda of understanding signed by MSPs and participating organisations.

Andrew Welsh (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): At this stage in its development, the Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange maintains in a paper format handbook its policy decisions and supporting procedures including standard letters of undertaking. This is available to consult. Priority in website publication is being given to reports of MSPs who have participated in placement programmes, the first of which are expected from MSPs over coming weeks. These reports are to be lodged in SPICe. The standard letter of undertaking is being used by companies and MSPs on placement programmes.